Men’s 1st Team

FIRST HALF DOUBLE HANDS HOME SIDE A SCRAPPY WIN

The opening 20 minutes didn’t provide many chances for either side as both teams searched for an opening. But with the game becoming increasingly stretched, IES broke the deadlock after centre back Newnes’s fumbled attempt to intercept a through ball, fell straight to the attacker who calmly slotted past goalkeeper Robinson.

The second goal soon followed minutes later from a short corner as the ball was fizzed to an unmarked forward at the near post to deflect into the roof of the net and double the hosts lead.

Newmarket, without a win since the second game of the season, did however grab a late first half goal to give the visitors hope of a revival. Man of the match Ollie Wade orchestrated the goal, beating two players inside the D, cutting the ball back to Podd, who slotted it into an open goal!

Newmarket dominated the second period, as they flew out the blocks right from the off, but IES defended purposefully. The visitors saw many chances squandered as a Donald effort from just inside the D was charged down, Skelton was then also denied by a fine block, as well as several Holden shots straight at an impressive IES goalkeeper.

The only downside to Newmarket’s play was that they weren’t able to find the back of the net again, with the home side just about hanging on. However they did almost net that second goal on the stroke of full time, as captain Wilson picked out an unmarked Podd at the far post, but he wasn’t able to get his stick down quick enough to deflect the ball into the net.

We are delighted to invite you to our annual NHC Christmas Party on the 8th December at 7pm. We are also pleased to announce that we will be returning to the same venue as last year – The Tack Room.

The Tack Room, which is positioned within the grounds of the stunning new Palace House, the National Heritage Centre for Horse Racing and Sporting Art, opened in 2016 and is run by the same team that are also behind the popular Pantry Fine Food Shop and Eatery.

Newmarket Men’s 3 – Division 6NE (S)

Newmarket M3s took 10 minutes to settle into their rhythm after which they scored two slick short corner goals courtesy of our one day wonder and man of the match Alwyn Robinson, Bury knocked one in in the second half, but for 60 mins the M3s were excellent. However as Confucius said “Hockey is a game of 70 minutes”. After 6 minutes Newmarket had been 3 goals down, so the final score was 4v2 to a team expecting promotion. As always there were many positives, but a win is both needed and expected next week against Bury 7s.

Newmarket Ladies’ 2s – Division 4NW

Newmarket Ladies 2s hosted St Ives 3, but were not complacent. The workings of the league meant that the opposition had met everyone we haven’t yet, last season the teams were very evenly matched so Captain Zoe Bailey knew this would not be an easy game between 2nd and 9th that the league table implied.

Newmarket started well, driving into St Ives half from the whistle but frustrated by St Ives’ keeper and the seemingly reduced width of the goals, until Emma “Welshy” Russell-Price intercepted a defence pass and found Georgia Atherton just left of penalty spot to put town at an advantage.

1-0 is not much safety net and at half time, the team were urged to pass, talk and believe in themselves.

The second half resulted in a lot of action in Newmarket’s half, St Ives seeming to pick their passes more successfully, and working well in their diamond formation. Younger players Megan Pithers and Sarah McGowan proved their mettle in their first games for L2, battling well in midfield. Town’s 2nd goal came when Sam Brooke, supporting an attack on the left from Laura Exell, tipped the ball just into the D and struck soundly beyond the reach of the keeper’s right foot.

Next week L2 travel to Cambridge to Wilberforce Road’s new pitches, meeting Cambs City 5: this also promises to be a close match, they sit below us in the league only by goal difference.

Newmarket Ladies’ 3s – Division 5NW(S)

The ladies 3rd XI headed out early Saturday morning, leaving Newmarket at 8:15am for one of their furthest away game travels, to Bedford to play Huntingdon 2nd IX.

Between the country roads, tractors and players making the school girl error of assuming that Huntingdon HC play in Huntingdon, arrival times were somewhat staggered.

Captain Mel Podd expecting that the earlier start and long drive would leave players half asleep, arrived with sugary treats, how-ever the uptake was poor.

With high player unavailability, the team for the day comprised of 11, including several ladies from the 4th team and an injured player who can’t run. The ladies started off sluggishly, with little oomph, which Hunts quickly clocked and tried to capitalise on. For the first 15 mins, Newmarket’s game had all the features of a cruise on the titanic. Between luck and some great goalie skills from Victoria Black, Newmarket survived several attacks in the D, including a short corner given for no apparent reason.

Position changes had to be made on fly, as 11th man Kat Allen suffered with shin splits, and became the 2nd “no running” player in the 11 man squad.

With the team finally waking up towards half time, and a good half time chat, the team started the 2nd half a lot stronger and feeling relieved that the score was still 0-0.

Now Newmarket began to really take control of the game, and began to dominate play. With good old passing and superb crosses being put into the D by Georgia Atherton, Alisha Vale was first to hit the backboards in the game to take Newmarket 1-0 up. In a similar move, Atherton found Emily Sargeant at the far post for the 2nd. Town really did dominate the second half, and had plenty of other good attacking play, and shots on goal.

Captain Mel Podd was very please to take the win, after some challenges in availability and line-up, and very encouraged with the play. The only challenge is how to get us to play as well in the first half of a game as we do in the second!

Man of the match went to Jane Dryland, who works tirelessly till the very last minute, and this week was no exception.

Teddy was awarded to Victoria Black who now knows she can play a cracking game in goal with only a 5 minute warm-up before pushback!

Following on from last week’s defeat at Newmarket squad was depleted and called on the youth from the second team in Baker, Sargent and Landshoff. We worked out their combined age to be 217, which seemed high but fortunately Dianne Abbott was on hand to vouch for our sums accuracy. When you chucked in veterans Wilson and Holden, it was like Dad’s army were going over the top. The quintet combined age alone probably exceeded the opposition’s team and their three man bench.

In the brief warm up that skipper Wilson’s punctuality allowed, the team discussed the tactics they’d like to implement. That went out the window after 5 minutes when the otherwise dependable Sargeant sent the young, athletic, pacy, skilful UEA forward in on goal, he beat Robinson (for the only time today) in nets to hand UEA the lead. Did I mentioned they were young….

Newmarket didn’t let their heads drop and picked up where they left off, both Rory Podd and Will Frost were outstanding on right and left midfield respectively playing with a level of discipline when out of possession which belied their tender years, providing plenty of cover for their full backs which meant Newmarket were consistently winning back possession.

Newmarket equalised when Holden won the first of many penalty corners, it wasn’t the slickest of routines, the drag and stop could have been better, but Wilson’s mishit strike deflected of the number 1 runner, wrong footing the keeper and pulling Newmarket level.

Newmarket started to grow in confidence, Landshoff worked hard and used the ball in the middle well and enable Leggett and Wilson to control the game when in possession. Newnes and Andy Baker marshalled the defence well Jenkins was always an outlet on the right. With 10 minutes or so remaining in the first half Podd almost put Newmarket in front, controlling sharply and sending a thunderous drive towards the bottom right corner which the UEA keeper somehow scrabbled round the post.

Holden’s intelligent, some might even say wise, movement caused UEA problems and he won a second penalty corner, having learnt from the first it was executed to perfection, Wilson’s strike slamming against the backboard. The half finished 2-1.

In the second half UEA continued to dominate but squander possession, on one rare occasion they did manage to penetrate the D and win a penalty corner, but Sargeant was there to make amends a pulled of a great goal line save to preserve the lead. Newmarket forced another couple on penalty corners themselves through the mercurial Holden, with UEA making a fine block from one of them, to stop Newmarket grabbing a third.

This was a hugely promising performance from a team that hadn’t played together before, the formation meant that Robinson had little to do other than to help marshal his defence. With many players unavailable today, it’ll pose problems for Captain Wilson ahead of next week’s game at home to Norwich Dragons. The match is 3pm at the Leisure Centre, as ever supporters are very welcome.

Ladies’ 2nd Team Report

A squirrel crossed the pitch.

Laura Excell scored twice, Helen Hansgate and Zoe Bailey once each and Robyn Henry-Jones bagged her first goal and Man of the Match for L2.